Sleeve for aiding in the affixation of board on a surface

ABSTRACT

A sleeve article which is made out of a rigid and durable material, e.g., varied metals, high-grade polyvinyl chloride, wood, which has a first portion which is to be removably affixed, substantially flat against the wall or ceiling intended to be covered or formed by the sheetrock, etc. The sheetrock sleeve article of the invention is to, further, include a second portion which is preferably attached to one side of the first portion and is offset from the first portion by an angle of from greater than 0° to less than 90° relative to the surface to be covered by the sheetrock to be installed, i.e., the second portion is offset from the first portion by an angle of from greater than 90° to less than 180°. Preferably, the angle existing between the first portion and second portion of the inventive article, as defined in the previous paragraph, should be from greater than 0° to about 45°, with such angle most preferably being approximately 20°, i.e., about a 20°-bend between the first and second portions of the sheetrock sleeve.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/566,162 filed Aug. 10,1990, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, generally, to a plaster wall/ceilingboard sleeve. The plaster wall/ceiling board to be affixed to a surfaceby the sleeve of the present invention is well known by the trademarkSheetrock. It should be understood that similar boards commerciallyavailable under other trademarks can, of course, be readily affixed byway of the present invention. Reference throughout this Specification toSheetrock shall therefore be understood as including all such equivalentmaterials.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel Sheetrocksleeve, which is both simplistic in its use and economical tomanufacture and sell, which allows for the installation of, for example,gypsum wallboard. With the present invention, such wallboard, etc., maybe installed by a single person, often in less time than current means,which generally require two or more persons and, thereby increase laborcosts.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Heretofore, the installation of, for example, Sheetrock or wall board ona wall or ceiling of a room generally required two or more persons toretain, in proper alignment, the Sheetrock, etc., while a person, oftena person other than one of the persons assisting in the alignment,applied the required securing means for permanent placement of theSheetrock on wall or ceiling.

In such prior art means for installation, it was not uncommon for thereto be a misalignment of Sheetrock, which often required the removal ofthe permanent securing means following installation. This process, likethe initial installation, often required the participation of severalpersons.

The prior art fails to disclose or suggest means for the readyinstallation of Sheetrock, wall board, etc., which requires no more thanthe efforts of a single individual and still produces results equal to,if not in excess of, prior means known to the art.

The availability of means capable of utilization by only a single personwill generally result in there being a reduction of labor costs overconventional means, thereby further increasing the efficiency of theclaimed invention, described in detail hereinafter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aSheetrock sleeve which enables a single individual to install Sheetrock,wall board, etc., on a wall or ceiling in proper alignment.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a Sheetrocksleeve which is likely to reduce the amount of labor costs generallyincurred in the conventional installation of Sheetrock on a wall orceiling. It is, still, a further object of the present invention toprovide a Sheetrock sleeve which is economical to produce and offer forsale.

It is, yet, a further object of the present invention to provide aSheetrock sleeve for the installation of sheetrock, wallboard, etc., ona ceiling or wall which overcomes the disadvantages inherent inconventionally knows means.

The foregoing and related objects are achieved by the claimed sleevearticle which is made out of a rigid and durable material, e.g., variedmetals, high-grade polyvinyl chloride, wood, which has a first portionwhich is to be removably affixed, substantially flat against the wall orceiling intended to be covered or formed by the Sheetrock, etc. TheSheetrock sleeve article of the invention is to, further, include asecond portion which is preferably attached to one side of the firstportion and is offset from the first portion by an angle of from greaterthan 0° to less than 90° relative to the surface to be covered by theSheetrock to be installed, i.e., the second portion is offset from thefirst portion by an angle of from greater than 90° to less than 180°.

Preferably, the angle existing between the first portion and secondportion of the inventive article, as defined in the previous paragraph,should be from greater than 0° to about 45°, with such angle mostpreferably being approximately 20°, i.e., about a 20°-bend between thefirst and second portions of the sheetrock sleeve article of theinvention.

The means for removably securing the first portion of the article to thesurface to be covered is a series of screws, preferably dry wall screws,which would be capable of insertion through a series of holes,preferably countersunk screw holes, provided in said first portion.

Both the first and second portions of the present invention are,preferably, rectangular in shape whereby the length of each ispreferably one foot to 12 feet, while the width is preferably two inchesto 10 inches. It should be understood that the foregoing are to beconsidered as being the preferred dimensions for constructing thepresent invention. The invention can be readily produced and utilizedwith first and second portions which do not fall within the foregoingranges of lengths and widths.

The preferred dimension for said first and second portions is to produceeach to have a length of three feet and a width of four inches.

The preferred thickness of each portion of the invention is preferablyone inch or less, with the preferred dimension being 0.25 inches. Thethickness can, of course, be greater than one inch, but it is generallybelieved that such additional thickness is unnecessary for carrying outthe objects of the present invention.

Utilization of the Sheetrock sleeve article is carried out by removablyaffixing the first portion of the inventive sleeve to either wall studsor ceiling joists, as appropriate. Thereafter, the wall board, forexample, is slide between the second portion of the sleeve article andthe surface to be covered or formed. The wall board or Sheetrock is thenpermanently affixed to the wall studs or ceiling hoists by conventionalmeans. Following such permanent affixation of the wall board orSheetrock, the first portion of the invention is then removed from thewall studs or ceiling joists. This procedure is repeated for successivesheets of wall board, etc., as further shown and described.

Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparentwhen such is considered in connection with the accompanying drawingfigures. It should, however, be noted that the accompanying drawingfigures illustrate but a single preferred embodiment of the presentinvention and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scopeof the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

In the drawing, wherein similar reference numerals denote similarfeatures throughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating use of the Sheetrock sleeve ofthe present invention for the installation of a first Sheetrock sheetalong a ceiling;

FIG. 2 is a further perspective view illustrating the use of theSheetrock sleeve of the present invention for the installationadditional Sheetrock sheets along a ceiling following installation ofthe initial sheet, as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the Sheetrock sleeve of the present inventionrelative to a flat surface;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the Sheetrock sleeve of the present inventionshowing the relationship between a wall stud, the article of theinvention and a first sheet of Sheetrock to be secured to a ceiling;and,

FIG. 5 is a further side view of the Sheetrock sleeve of the presentinvention showing the use of the same for securing a second sheet ofSheetrock to a ceiling joist.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

Turning now, in detail, to an analysis of the accompanying drawingfigures, FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating use of the Sheetrocksleeve 10 of the present invention for the installation of a firstsheetrock sheet 12, shown partially broken away, for the purpose offorming a ceiling.

In FIG. 1, sleeve 10 is shown as being comprised of two portions 20 and22, respectively, which are preferably rectangular. First portion 20 isprovided with means 25 for the removable affixation of the same toeither wall studs or ceiling joists. Such removable affixation means arepreferably a series of drywall screws 25; the first portion 20preferably being provided with a series of corresponding countersunkscrew holes for said screws 25.

Sleeve 10 further includes a second portion 22 which is preferablyattached to one edge of first portion 20 and is offset from firstportion 20 by an angle of from greater than 0° to less than 90°, andpreferably less than 45°, relative to the plane of the surface to becovered or formed. Most preferably, such angle is approximately 20°.

It is generally contemplated that first portion 20 and second portion 22will be integrally constructed, however, such need not be the case. Anintegral construction is preferred. Sleeve 10 is preferably made ofvarious metals or a high-grade polyvinyl chloride composition, thoughthe use of other materials is possible.

Again considering FIG. 1, sleeve 10 is shown as being removably affixedto at least two wall studs, 24a, 24b, by a series of screws 25. Once sosecured, board 12, which is partially shown in phantom, is able to beinsertd between the horizontal, lengthwise edge of second portion 22,said edge being designated by reference numeral 26, and ceiling joist28, partially shown in phantom.

Placement of board 12 in the manner described in the previous paragraphallows sleeve 10 (more particularly, second portion 22) to sufficientlyretain one side of board 12 in place while a person permanently affixesboard 12 to a series of ceiling joists 28. Such permanent affixation ofboard 12 is by conventional means. Once board 12 is permanently affixed,sleeve 10, i.e., first portion 20, is removed from wall studs 24a, 24b.Placement of a second, adjoining board may then take place.

FIG. 2 is a further prospective view illustrating the use of thesheetrock sleeve 10 of the present invention for the installation ofadditional sheetrock sheets, or boards 12, for forming a ceilingfollowing installation of the initial sheet 12, as shown in FIG. 1.

For attachment of a second board 12, by means of the sleeve 10 of thepresent invention, first portion 20 is removably affixed by screws 25 toceiling joist 28 (one ceiling joist partially shown in FIG. 2) Once soattached, a second board 12 is able to be slid, or wedged, betweensecond portion 22 and the series of ceiling joists to which said board12 is to be permanently affixed. Board 12 is able to sufficientlyretained between second portion 22 and the series of ceiling joists byvirtue of the acute angle provided between said first portion 20 andsaid second portion 22, said angle being defined relative to the surfaceof the sheetrock, i.e., the surface to be formed, as best shown in FIG.3.

When wedged in the manner as described in the previous paragraph, board12 is able to be readily secured in a permanent fashion by a singleindividual. Following such permanent securement, which is carried out ina conventional fashion, first portion 20 is remoed and additionaladjoining boards may be secured by a similar procedure.

FIG. 3 is a side view of the sheetrock sleeve of the present inventionrelative to a flat surface, or surface to be formed. This figure, asreferred to above, illustrates the preferred angle between first portion20 and second portion 22, as well as how such angel is defined in theinstant disclosure. It is noted that such angle is defined relative tothe plane of the surface to be formed via use of sleeve 10. Sleeve 10may be made to have other angles, either larger smaller, than that shownin FIG. 3, which represents a perferred embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the sheetrock sleeve 10 of the presentinvention showing the relationship between a wall stud 24a, the sleeve10 of the invention and a first sheet 12 of sheetrock to be secured to aceiling (additional ceiling joist shown by reference numeral 28.)

As described in greater detail, relative to FIg. 1, sleeve 10 isremovably affixed to wall stud 24a by first portion 10. Board 12 is thenable to be slid between ceiling joist 28 and edge 26 of second portion22 until one edge of board 12 is adjacent to the wall stud. Board 12 isthen able to be permanently secured to ceiling joists 28, in aconventional manner. Sleeve 10 can then be removed in the mannerdescribed above.

FIG.5 is a further side view of the sheetrock sleeve 10 of the presentinvention showing the use of the same for securing a second sheet 12 ofsheetrock to a ceiling joist. This view illustrates the attachmentprocedure previously described relative to FIG. 2. Again, first portion20 is removably secured to ceiling joist 28. A second board 12 is thenwedged between the ceiling joists, for the surface to be formed, andsecond portion 22 of sleeve 10. Board 12 may then be permanently securedto ceiling joists 28, in a conventional manner, and sleeve 10 may thenbe removed. The procedure of FIG. 5 is then repeated for successivelyadjoining boards 12.

It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications may be made to the present invention. The materials ofwhich the present invention is made may be readily varied, as well asthe particular dimensions of the first and second portions of thepresent invention.

While only several embodiments of the present invention have been shownand described, it will be obvious to those of ordinary skill in the artthat many modifications may be made to the present invention withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for installing sheets of constuctionmaterial to a plurality of construction support devices whereby anindividual can install said sheets of construction materialsingle-handedly and achieve proper alignment, comprising the stepsof:providing a sleeve article having a first portion and a secondportion, said first portion having an angular orientation with respectto said second portion, and wherein said first portion is to beremovably affixed to said plurality of construction support devices;removably affixing said first portion of said sleeve article to at leastone construction support device; guiding one end of said sheet ofconstruction material until said one end of said sheet of constructionmaterial is securely seated between said second portion and said atleast one construction support device; permanently affixing the otherend of said sheet of construction material to a construction supportdevice; and removing said sleeve article from said at least oneconstruction support device.
 2. A method according to claim 1, whereinsaid plurality of construction support devices comprise a plurality ofwall studs and first and second ceiling joists, said wall studs havingupper ends for supporting a first ceiling joist, said first ceilingjoist supporting a second ceiling joist perpendicular to said firstceiling joist, and wherein said second portion of said sleeve articlehas a lengthwise edge; andwherein said step of removably affixing saidfirst portion of said sleeve article to a construction support devicecomprises removably affixing said first portion of said sleeve articleto at least one wall stud near the upper end therof with said secondportion of said sleeve article positioned to form a gap between saidlengthwise edge of said second portion and said second ceiling joist;wherein said step of guiding said sheet of construction materialcomprises guiding one end of said sheet of construction material untilsaid one end therof is securely seated between said lengthwise edge ofsaid second portion and said second ceiling joist; wherein saidpemanently affixing step comprises permanently affixing the other end ofsaid sheet of construction material to said second ceiling joist; andwherein said removing step comprises removing said first portion of saidsleeve article from said at least one wall stud.
 3. The method of claim2, further comprising the step of permanently affixing said one end ofsaid sheet of construction material to a construction support device. 4.A method according to claim 2, wherein at least some of said pluralityof construction support devices comprise a plurality of ceiling joiseadna at least one installed sheet of ceiling construction material;andwherein said step of removably affixing said first portion of saidsleeve article to at least one construction support deice comprisesremovably affixing said first portion to a permanently installed ceilingsheet of construction material with said first portion positioned at oneend of said permanently installed sheet of construction material andwith said second portion extending beyond said one end of saidpermanently installed sheet of construction material and angled downwardtherefrom; wherein said guiding step comprises guiding another sheet ofconstruction material until an end of said another sheet of constructionmaterial abuts the end of said permanently installed sheet ofconstruction material; wherein said permanent affixing step comprisespermanently affixing the other end of said another sheet of constructionmaterial to a ceiling joist; and wherein said removing step comprisesremoving said first portion from said permanently installed sheet ofconstruction material.
 5. The method of claim 3, further comprising thestep of permanently affixing said one end of said another sheet ofconstruction material to a construction support device.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising the step of permanently affixing said oneend of said sheet of construction material to a construction supportdevice.